DOCSLIB.ORG

PRRD REFILLS OFW RELIEF FUND PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte Has Approved the Release of P5 Billion As an Additional Fund to Help in the Repatriation And

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
PRRD REFILLS OFW RELIEF FUND PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte Has Approved the Release of P5 Billion As an Additional Fund to Help in the Repatriation And Reklamo sa amo? Wagas na kaltas, atpb.? ISUMBONG SA DOLE HOTLINE 1349 PRRD REFILLS OFW RELIEF FUND PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has approved the release of P5 billion as an additional fund to help in the repatriation and photo by Dodong Echavez, IPS financial support programs for overseas Filipino workers affected by the COVID-19 TRIBUTE: Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin lead officials in a recent tribute to honor OFWs who perished abroad due to COVID-19 and other causes. pandemic. P2 Repatriation of fallen OFWs 'more Recruitment agencies ordered than a gov't duty' – Bello to help stranded hires THE massive repatriation of overseas month. Filipino workers, including those who Bello made the statement as officials LICENSED recruitment agencies their respective processed OFWs whose have perished in their work places held an arrival tribute for 72 remains of are now required to assist applicants deployments were deferred due to abroad, amid the global health crisis is OFWs from Saudi Arabia last August 28, for overseas jobs who were stranded community quarantine restrictions. more than a duty of government, Labor the fourth batch to be repatriated from locally due to quarantine restrictions, POEA also instructed PRAs Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said. to help overseas employment Secretary Silvestre Bello III said late this P2 In order to provide relief to applicants currently housed in their legitimate manpower exporters, Bello accommodations and those who were also ordered suspension of private promised or assured employment recruitment agencies’ (PRA) payment assistance. Government mandates free of additional escrow deposit for two “All PRAs are directed to assist years to help them cope with the impact the locally stranded individuals, of the pandemic. which shall include but not limited swab tests for all workers According to Bello, the governing to, temporary accommodation or WORKERS in the hospitality and tourism cost to the employees,” Bello said. board of the Philippine Overseas shelter, food, COVID-19 test, and sectors, manufacturing companies, Describing the measure which took Employment Administration (POEA) transportation back to their respective including frontline and economic priority effect last August 12, he said: “This is so far approved in August separate resolutions provinces,” Bello said. employees, will be required to undergo the most comprehensive set of guidelines directing all PRAs to help their stranded Non-compliance with the reportorial regular RT-PCR test to prevent the spread for the safety and protection of workers applicants, and allowing the withdrawal requirement, wilful neglect or failure by of COVID-19 in workplaces, the labor and employees in workplaces. The strict of their escrow deposits in excess of P1 the licensed recruitment and manning department said. observance of these health protocols will million. Bello heads the POEA board. agencies to provide assistance without Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said make a big difference in our long-drawn Under POEA Governing Board just cause will warrant their suspension this is contained in Joint Memorandum battle to defeat COVID- 19 and ensure the Resolution No. 11, private recruitment and other sanctions the POEA may Circular No. 20-04, a supplemental productivity of the Filipino workforce.'” agencies are ordered to act on issues or deem necessary. guideline on workplace prevention and Identified to take real-time reverse complaints brought to their attention In GB Resolution No. 10, meanwhile, control of COVID-19 both issued by the transcription-polymerase chain reaction, and to closely monitor and to submit licensed agencies will no longer be DTI and DOLE. or RT–PCR test, are workers in the tourist report on the status and condition of P3 “The COVID-19 testing must be at no P2 Photo by NLRC photo by DOLE RO-6 photo by Dodong Echavez, IPS photo by Dodong Echaves, IPS AGENCIES REGIONS OVERSEAS GOOD NEWS POEA readies Campaign Mind wellness Japan eases global eye vs child labor in Macau restrictions for OFWs P5 beefed up P6 P7 for Pinoy workers P8 2 August 2020 PRRD REFILLS Returned workers OFW RELIEF top 170K FUND RETURNING overseas The news was recently OFWs to their home provinces Filipino workers (OFWs) announced by Labor Secretary once they test negative of the who were assisted by the Silvestre Bello III who said, virus. labor department in going “Dahil po mahal na mahal ni Aside from the OWWA home to their respective Pangulong Duterte ang ating assistance, DOLE also extends a provinces already stands mga bagong bayani, ibinigay po one-time P10,000, or $200, cash at 170,000 as of end nya ang kailangan nating dagdag aid under its Abot-Kamay Ang August. na pondo para sa repatriation at Pagtulong Program (DOLE- In a report to Labor tulong para sa ating mga OFW.” AKAP) to pandemic-affected Secretary Silvestre Bello Bello said the bulk of the OFWs, both on-site and those III, Administrator Hans additional P5 billion fund will be stranded in the country. Leo Cacdac of the released to the Overseas Workers The initial amount of P2.5 photo by Dodong Echavez, IPS Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) billion for the DOLE-AKAP Welfare Administration which undertakes the repatriation program is nearing depletion, as it said the month of August of OFWs displaced on-site due was utilized to provide assistance meant to benefit only 250,000. the AKAP program and more alone was capped with to lockdowns and closure of to more than 243,000 land- Total aid requests received by overseas workers will be 55,709 OFWs making their establishments overseas. based and sea-based workers, DOLE’s foreign offices and repatriated and provided with way home after testing Aside from repatriation with disbursements already OWWA now stand at 617,431. assistance. negative for COVID-19. assistance, OWWA shoulders the amounting to P2.4.92 billion as of Bello had requested P2.5 “I have directed our POLOs Before they left for cost of COVID tests for OFWs the end of this month. billion additional fund to to accelerate the processing of the provinces they upon their arrival in the country, So far, DOLE’s Philippine augment the requirements of the assistance so that a greater were all provided with as well as their food and hotel Overseas Labor Offices and about 597,469 OFWs seeking number of our OFWs can avail accommodations while awaiting OWWA had processed and government assistance. of the aid from government,” he assistance and temporary their test results. This also approved the applications of With the additional funding, said. accommodations while includes the cost of transporting 280,253 OFWs under the program more OFWs will benefit from waiting for their viral test results. OWWA also arranged transportation are highly encouraged to provide for their safe return to the Government mandates free swab tests for all workers . from P1 telemedicine services, in the provinces. The government has zones, local manufacturing special concern areas must be Under the joint memorandum absence of an HMO. been providing quarantine companies, transport and logistics, tested once every quarter. These circular, face shields must cover “We encourage large and accommodations, food food retail, education, financial include workers in transport and the entire face. Cloth masks with medium private establishments services, non-food retail, services, logistics, food retail, education, an additional filter such as tissue or those with multiple tenants, to and other assistance to all public market, construction; financial services, non-food retail, paper or similar material may be designate an isolation area of one repatriated OFWs since water supply, sewerage, and and those in the services sector. used as long as they are clean and room for every 200 employees, May and has so far sent waste management; public sector, The joint memorandum covers washed daily. On the other hand, which shall be a separate area home a total of 173,088 and mass media. all establishments, projects, sites, masks with vent and visor-types other than the company clinic,” to their destinations as of The guidelines specifically including establishments located are not allowed to be used. Bello said. August 29. mandate all employees in the inside special economic zones Bello said employers Private establishments unable Aside from the hospitality and tourism sectors in and other investment promotion classified as large and medium- to establish an isolation area OWWA assistance, DOLE El Nido, Boracay, Coron, Panglao, agencies, and all other places sized private establishments, may make arrangements with also extends a one-time Siargao, and other tourist zones, where work is being undertaken or those with total assets above a temporary treatment and P10,000 or $200 cash as identified and declared by in all branches of economic P15 million, are enjoined to monitoring facility nearby or with aid under AKAP to the barangay authority while the Department of Tourism, to activity, except in the public provide shuttle services to their pandemic-affected OFWs, malls and buildings must have at undergo testing once every four sector. employees. Windows of shuttle both on-site and those least one isolation area near their weeks. Aside from the regular testing, service must also be opened at stranded in the country. Based on the guidelines, DOLE and DTI also mandate least three inches while in transit. entrances. employees of manufacturing the wearing of face mask and Adequate ventilation must companies and public service face shield and provision of be strictly enforced inside the providers in economic zones disinfection materials and workplace and installation of Repatriation of fallen OFWs "more located within Special Concern supplies in strategic areas in exhaust fans and air filtration Areas must be tested once every workplaces, including company devices is encouraged. than a gov't duty – Bello .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Issue No. 3815 GUEST of HONOR and SPEAKER November 14
    28 PROGRAM Official Newsletter of Rotary Club of Manila RCM’s 18th for Rotary Year 2019-2020 Thursday, November 14, 2019, 12:00 pm, Manila Polo Club, McKinley Room Officer-In-Charge/ Program Moderator : PP Benny Laguesma P R O G R A M T I M E T A B L E 11:00 AM Registration 12:15 PM Bell to be Rung: Members and Guests are requested to be seated Issuebalita No. 3815 November 14, 2019 12:20 PM Program Proper PP Benny Laguesma OIC/Moderator AVIATION INDUSTRY MAKES BIG IMPACT Call to Order Pres. Jackie Rodriguez ON PHILIPPINE ECONOMY Singing of the Philippine National Anthem RCM WF Music Chorale Invocator PP Jimmie Policarpio RCM Hymn/ Rotary Hymn RCM WF Music Chorale The Four (4) Way Test Credo All Rotarians 12:30 PM Introduction of Guests/Visiting Rotarians and Personalities STAR Rtn. Peri Resabal seated at the Presidential Table Welcome Song RCM WF Music Chorale 12:35 PM Maligayang Bati (RCM Birthday Celebrants) Nov. 19…PDG Vince Carlos Nov. 20…Rtn. Mon Ko Happy Birthday Song RCM WF Music Chorale GUEST OF HONOR AND SPEAKER 12:40 PM Induction of a New Member to the Rotary Club of Manila a) Brief Introduction of the Inductee SDG/Club Sec./DE/ Dir. Albert Alday Proposer Mr. Michael T. Macapagal (Filipino) Partner, Quisumbing Torres Classification: Law Practice-Construction Law Proposer: SDG/Club Secretary/DE/Dir. Albert Alday b) Charging of New Member PP Benny Laguesma Charging Officer c) Formal Induction Ceremony Pres. Jackie Rodriguez Inducting Officer Welcome Baby Rotarian Song RCM WF Music Chorale Hon.
    [Show full text]
  • Earth Day Marks Need for Collective Efforts on Solving Crises by Ma
    UPPE PAGE BANNE EDITORI CARTOO 1 R AL N STORY STORY PAG LOWE Strategic Communication 1/1 25 April 2020 and Initiatives Service Page Date Earth Day marks need for collective efforts on solving crises By Ma. Cristina Arayata April 22, 2020, 7:18 pm https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1100699 Image grabbed from DENR's Facebook page MANILA – Every April 22, Earth Day is being observed to demonstrate support for environmental protection. But with the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic plaguing millions of people around the world, collective action among countries and stakeholders is of paramount importance. For the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Roy Cimatu, comprehensive and concerted action is a must. In his Earth Day message shared on DENR's Facebook page, he said survival is at stake in both Covid-19 and climate change. "The urgency of the need for concerted and comprehensive action, without waiting for the problem to peak or to impact millions more of people, is the same," he added. With the Covid-19 pandemic, Cimatu said now is the perfect time for people to ponder the need for collective action. "The damage from Covid-19 and climate change bring about destruction and chaos to any nation. On the one hand, with Covid-19, we are faced with an immediate gripping fear of losing more lives; on the other hand, with climate change, we are faced with rising sea levels, saline intrusion into aquifers, droughts, floods, and the results will impact billions of people, as well as biodiversity.
    [Show full text]
  • Change in Schedule of Pre-SONA Forum 2020
    Republic of the Philippines National Economic and Development Authority MEMORANDUM VERY URGENT FOR : Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea OES Secretary Carlos Dominguez III DOF Acting Secretary Karl Chua NEDA Secretary Mark Villar DPWH Secretary Arthur Tugade DOTr Secretary Gregorio Honasan II DICT Secretary William Dar DA Secretary Ramon Lopez DTI Secretary Wendel Avisado DBM Secretary Fortunato de la Peña DOST Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat DOT Secretary Alfonso Cusi DOE Secretary Eduardo Año DILG Secretary Karlo Nograles OCS Secretary Isidro Lapeña TESDA Undersecretary Ferdinand Cui, Jr. PMS Governor Benjamin Diokno BSP SUBJECT : CHANGE IN TIME SCHEDULE OF THE “ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CLUSTER (EDC) AND INFRASTRUCTURE CLUSTER (IC) PRE-SONA FORUM 2020” ON 08 JULY 2020 FROM : EDC Secretariat DATE : 06 July 2020 1. Please be advised that the time of the 2020 Pre-SONA Economic Development Cluster (EDC) and Infrastructure Cluster (IC) Forum: Regaining Momentum, Accelerating Recovery in a Post COVID-19 World on 08 July 2020 has now been changed to 11:00 AM from 9:00 AM. 2. In this regard, the PCOO, through the EDC Secretariat, requests all EDC member agencies to post in their respective Facebook pages the Pre-SONA Schedule Update Image together with its proposed caption (kindly see attached Pre-SONA Schedule Update Image and Proposed Caption on Schedule Update). 3. Note that this is based on the latest instruction of the PCOO. 4. For questions and clarifications, your designated staff may wish to contact Mr. Antonio Jose G. Leuterio and Ms. Rodelyn L. Rodillas at e-mail addresses [email protected] and [email protected], respectively.
    [Show full text]
  • President Rodrigo Duterte's Economic Team
    Received by NSD/FARA Registration Unit 07/31/2020 6:07:26 PM Media Releases (February to June 2020) 1. March 16 Media Release: Philippine DoF pledges over USD525 million to support health authorities and provide economic relief during COVID-19 March 16, 2020 PRESS RELEASE Gov’t economic team rolls out P27.1 B package vs COVID-19 pandemic President Rodrigo Duterte’s economic team has announced a P27.i-billion package of priority actions to help frontliners fight the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and provide economic relief to people and sectors affected by the virus-induced slowdown in economic activity. The package consists of government initiatives to better equip our health authorities in fighting COVID-19 and also for the relief and recovery efforts for infected people and the various sectors now reeling from the adverse impact of the lethal pathogen. Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, who chairs the Duterte Cabinet's Economic Development Cluster (EDC), said on Monday the measures in the package “are designed to do two things: First is to ensure that funding is available for the efforts of the Department of Health (DOH) to contain the spread of COVID-19. Second is to provide economic relief to those whose businesses and livelihoods have been affected by the spread of this disease.” “As directed by President Duterte, the government will provide targeted and direct programs to guarantee that benefits will go to our workers and other affected sectors. We have enough but limited resources, so our job is to make sure that we have sufficient funds for programs mitigating the adverse effects of COVID-19 on our economy,” he added.
    [Show full text]
  • 2014 Presidential Awards for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Message Overseas
    My warmest greetings to the organizers, partners, nominees, and recipients of the Year 2014 Presidential Awards for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Message Overseas. The Philippines now enjoys its rightful place in the global community due to our determination to seize all opportunities for growth, uplift lives, and help restore the Filipino’s distinction in this highly competitive climate. It has been four years since we began to transverse the straight and righteous path, and we have come far: Change has indeed set in. We have regained our people’s confidence in our bureaucracy and institutions; we have endeavored to establish the necessary reforms to empower our citizenry; and we have transformed our country from the “Sick Man of Asia” into one of the top performing economies in the world. We have achieved all these because of our solidarity towards equitable progress, ensuring that, as we move forward, no man is left behind. This is why we in government promote volunteerism and social corporate responsibility: To cascade the benefits of our socio-economic programs to the grassroots level and enable more of our countrymen, especially the poor, to lead dignified lives. I join the Commission on Filipinos Overseas as you hold this search to pay tribute to Filipino individuals and organizations that have contributed greatly to Philippine development initiatives and have served the interests of Filipino communities overseas. I congratulate your BENIGNO S. AQUINO III Lingkod sa Kapwa Pilipino, Kaanib ng Bayan, Banaag, The President of the Philippines and Pamana ng Pilipino Awardees as well, for your efforts to better the conditions of our kababayans here in the Philippines and abroad, and represent the Filipino MANILA talent and industry in your adoptive homelands.
    [Show full text]
  • 22 JANUARY 2021, FRIDAY Headline STRATEGIC January 22, 2021 COMMUNICATION & Editorial Date INITIATIVES Column SERVICE 1 of 1 Opinion Page Feature Article
    22 JANUARY 2021, FRIDAY Headline STRATEGIC January 22, 2021 COMMUNICATION & Editorial Date INITIATIVES Column SERVICE 1 of 1 Opinion Page Feature Article DENR confiscates P124,000 worth of unregistered chainsaws IAN OCAMPO FLORA January 21, 2021 ELEVEN unregistered chainsaws worth more than P124,000 were confiscated by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in its intensified anti-illegal logging campaign in Pampanga in 2020. Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (Penro) head Laudemir Salac said their campaign against illegal chainsaws came from the marching order of environment secretary Roy Cimatu to prevent the actual cutting of trees in the forest areas to save the remaining natural resources. “This is one of our strategies or innovations to curb timber poaching in our forest lands in the province. Instead of the traditional approach of apprehending suspected illegal loggers while transporting forest contrabands, we go after those unregistered chainsaws, which may be used in illegal cutting of trees,” he explained. He said timber poachers usually used chainsaws which are not registered with the DENR and this approach may help prevent the actual cutting of standing trees in our forest. “Along with this, we also intensify further our illegal logging operations including the strict monitoring of lumber sources and supply of our registered lumber dealer and hardware,” he added. Section 6 of Republic Act No. 9175 or the Chainsaw Act of 2002 states that all persons who own or are otherwise in possession of chainsaws must register with the DENR. It identifies those persons authorized to possess and use a chainsaw such as those with subsisting timber license agreement or a private land timber permit, an orchard, tree, and industrial farmer, a license wood processor and the chainsaw shall be used for cutting of timber that has been legally sold to the applicant, and those shall use for a legal purpose.
    [Show full text]
  • BUBALUS NEWSLETTER VOL.2 NO. 3 EPP EDITED.Indd
    w www.pcc.gov.ph 2018 Agricultural Newsletter of the Year Philippine Carabao Center- f Department of Agriculture BubalusQuarterly Newsletter of the Philippine Carabao Center Vol. 2 No. 3 • 2019 F EATURES In Zambales DA chief shares with carapreneurs Thru the eyes strategies to level up agri sector of love springs community By Ma. Cecilia Irang development Dr. William Dar, the newly appointed in the Science City of Muñoz (SCM), By Charlene Corpuz secretary of the Department Nueva Ecija (NE), the returning DA of Agriculture (DA), visited the chief imparted with carapreneurs (a The rich resource that is Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) to portmanteau derived from ‘carabao’ building up within the Sta. share some of his “new thinking” and ‘entrepreneur’) his schemes Catalina Farm in Botolan strategies in the agriculture sector, to achieve his twin objectives or which he once handled during the strategies called “ani at kita” (harvest is gradually translating administration of Joseph Estrada. and income) for clients. to become a hub of development in this local In a program held on August 29 at To page 15 the center’s national headquarters town in Zambales. To page 22 Editorial Staff ERIC P. PALACPAC ROWENA G. BUMANLAG Editor Managing Editor MA. CECILIA C. IRANG CHRISSALYN L. MARCELO Editor’s Issue Managing Editor Layout CHARLENE P. CORPUZ JEFFREY LAURENCE E. ANTOLIN MA. CECILIA C. IRANG LEINEFE LIBRES-ATON Word CHARLENE S. JOANINO JESON C. CANDOLE CHRISSALYN L. MARCELO JUSTINE JOY D. SALVADOR Staff Writers RODOLFO JR. T. VALDEZ “Groundbreaking” if I may aptly summarize some of the subjects of LILIAN P.
    [Show full text]
  • Program Committee Weekly Advisory Hon. WILLIAM
    November 11, 2019 Program Committee Weekly Advisory Hon. WILLIAM DAR Secretary, Department of Agriculture Guest of Honour and Speaker November 14, 2019, Thursday, 11:00 AM-Start of Registration; 12:15PM-Start of Program MANILA POLO CLUB MCKINLEY ROOM We shall have Hon. WILLIAM DAR, Secretary, Department of Agriculture, as our Guest of Honour and Speaker, on November 14, 2019, Thursday, 11:00 AM-Start of Registration; 12:15PM-Start of Program, at the MANILA POLO CLUB MCKINLEY ROOM. Secretary Dar will present the department’s thrust, plans and programs as he steers the agricultural sector for greater height of achievements. A public forum will immediately follow right after his speech. Sec. William Dollente Dar (born 1953) is a Filipino horticulturist and public servant who is the 45th Secretary of Agriculture of the Philippines. He was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte on August 5, 2019 to replace Emmanuel Piñol. Dar held the same position under President Joseph Estrada from 1998 to 1999. He is also a former Director General of ICRISAT. Dar is a citizen of the Philippines particularly in the town of Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur where he was born, raised and educated. He specialised originally in horticulture, receiving his doctoral degree from the University of the Philippines at Los Banos. After serving on the faculty of the Benguet State University in the northern Philippines, he became the first director of the Philippine Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) in 1988. This was a period when the Philippines started to invest much in building a national system of advanced agricultural research institutes, such as the Philippine Rice Research Institute, PhilRice.
    [Show full text]
  • Europh Connect 2019 Agriculture
    IN THIS ISSUE: • Moving Towards Agricultural Development: An Interview with Senator Cynthia Villar • European Country in Focus: Denmark • Understanding some key areas of AgTech [email protected] • +632 224-1833 www.philippinenickel.org Published by European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) Table of Contents Head Office 19/F Philippine AXA Life Centre Sen. Gil Puyat Ave. cor. Tindalo St., Makati City, Philippines Page 8 Tel: (02) 8845 1326; 8759 6680 | Fax: (02) 8845 1395; 8759 6690 E-mail: [email protected] European Country in Focus: Denmark Visayas Office DOST 7 Banilad S&T Complex, Gov. M. Cuenco Ave., Banilad, 6000 Cebu City, Philippines Tel: (032) 253 3389; 254 3765; 254 3767 Fax: (032) 253 3389 E-mail: [email protected] Page 10 Mindanao Office We envision to strengthen the role of the nickel Regus Davao Centre, 4F Topaz Tower, Damosa IT Park, JP Laurel Ave, Lanang, Davao City, Philippines Farewell Interview with former Ambassador mining industry as a globally competitive and Tel: (6382) 271 0635 | Fax: (6382) 226 4433; 221 4148 Jan Top Christensen of Denmark responsible driver of inclusive sustainable E-mail: [email protected] economic growth in the Philippines. ECCP Board of Directors Nabil Francis - President Lars Wittig - Vice President Cesar Cruz - Secretary Page 14 We commit to partner with local stakeholders and Peter Calimag - Assistant Corporate Secretary contribute to regional economic development and Gerry Constantino - Assistant Corporate Secretary Amal Makhloufi Benchouk - Director Understanding some key areas of AgTech community empowerment. Jochen Bitzer - Director Kais Marzouki - Director We Go Beyond Compliance Jet Marcial Parma - Director Cesar Romero - Director Unit 15 2/F LeoSulpi Building, Finlandia St.
    [Show full text]
  • Report Name:Philippines Lowers Pork Tariffs and Raises Quota Volume
    Voluntary Report – Voluntary - Public Distribution Date: May 17, 2021 Report Number: RP2021-0027 Report Name: Philippines Lowers Pork Tariffs and Raises Quota Volume Country: Philippines Post: Manila Report Category: Livestock and Products, SP2 - Prevent or Resolve Barriers to Trade that Hinder U.S. Food and Agricultural Exports, Trade Policy Incident Report, Trade Policy Monitoring Prepared By: Pia Ang Approved By: Ryan Bedford Report Highlights: Responding to surging pork prices due to African swine fever’s devastating impact on the hog sector, the Philippines has temporarily lowered pork tariff rates and increased the quota volume. On May 15, 2021, President Duterte issued Executive Order 134, setting pork tariffs significantly lower than the original 30 percent in-quota and 40 percent out-quota rates. EO 134 follows considerable pushback by domestic industry and Congress to Executive Order 128, which the President issued on April 7, 2021 and set rates at 5 percentage points lower than EO 134. The President also issued Executive Order 133 on May 11, 2021, raising the Minimum Access Volume or tariff rate quota of pork imports from 54,210 MT to 254,210 MT. THIS REPORT CONTAINS ASSESSMENTS OF COMMODITY AND TRADE ISSUES MADE BY USDA STAFF AND NOT NECESSARILY STATEMENTS OF OFFICIAL U.S. GOVERNMENT POLICY Duterte addresses soaring pork prices by boosting imports President Duterte issued Executive Order 128 (EO 128) on April 7, 2021, significantly lowering the Most Favored Nation tariff rates on imported fresh, chilled, and frozen pork (HS 0203) for one year while recommending to Congress that the Minimum Access Volume (MAV) or tariff rate quota be increased from 54,210 MT to 404,210 MT.
    [Show full text]
  • William Dar.Indd
    Institute of Agriculture Food and Agriculture Lecture Series ICRISAT: Champions of the poor of the semi-arid tropics Dr William D Dar Director General International Crops Research Institute for the Semi Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) 10 July 2009 16:00 - 17:00 Molecular & Chemical Sciences Lecture Theatre (G.33) WA (Fairway, Entrance No. 4, Car Park 14 and 21) Dr William D Dar, Director General of the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) based near Hyderabad in India, will give a seminar entitled “ICRISAT: Champions of the poor of the semi-arid tropics”. During the seminar he will highlight the re-emergence of agriculture and the importance of agricultural research in the global context, particularly in view of climate change, the global fi nancial crisis and high food and fuel prices. He will talk about ICRISAT’s research programs in crop improvement; agro-ecosystems; biotechnology; and, socio-economics as they relate to contemporary global issues. Dr Dar will also highlight the major outputs and impacts of ICRISAT’s work and the special role that Australia has played, and continues to play, as a partner with the Centre. Finally, he will focus on some of the challenges of the future such as the economic imperative for investing in agricultural research in the semi-arid tropics and the new partnerships that will be necessary to deliver benefi ts to the rural and urban poor in these regions. Dr William D Dar is the Director General of the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) near Hyderabad in Andhra Pradesh, India, since January 2000.
    [Show full text]
  • News Release No.111 Statement of DA Sec. William Dar on Bayanihan Law
    News Release No.111 Statement of DA Sec. William Dar on Bayanihan Law The Department of Agriculture (DA) will continue to work closely with the Department of Finance (DOF) and the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) in implementing the "Bayanihan to Heal as One" law as the country transitions to the ‘new normal’ in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. We would like to thank President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, executive secretary Salvador Medialdea, budget secretary Wendel Avisado and finance secretary Carlos G. Dominguez for allocating part of the P205-billion program to Philippine agriculture, specifically P8.5 billion for our Rice Resiliency Project, to further enhance food production and availability. We assure the President and Secretary Dominguez, who also heads the Cabinet Economic Cluster, that the DA will work fervently to implement their marching order to allow our economy recover quickly upon the defeat of the virus. To address this objective, the DA has crafted the "Ahon Lahat, Pagkaing Sapat or ALPAS Laban COVID-19, otherwise called the Plant, Plant, Plant Program, which seeks to increase national agri-fishery output through intensified use of quality seeds, appropriate inputs, modern technologies to increase levels of productivity across all commodities, and thus ensure food productivity, availability, accessibility and affordability amidst the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic. We wish to emphasize that the threat of hunger is as real as the threat of COVID-19. Hence, we will continue to partner with farmers' and fishers' groups, LGUs, private sector, academe, and NGOs to realize our vision of a food-secure Philippines teeming with prosperous farmers and fisherfolk.
    [Show full text]